A location-aware virtual character in a smart room: effects on performance, presence and adaptivity

Location-aware ambient environments are relevant in designing interactive virtual characters. However, they raise several questions about spatial behaviors to be displayed by virtual characters, and about the perception of virtual characters by users. We designed a location-aware virtual agent that adapts its spatial behavior to users' and objects' locations during a search task in a smart room. We conducted an experimental evaluation comparing this adaptive agent with an agent that does not perceive nor use the location of users and objects. The location-aware adaptive agent elicited higher levels of perceived presence and perceived adaptivity. Furthermore, performance was less influenced by task difficulty when users interacted with the adaptive agent. Such results can be useful for the design of future location-aware virtual agents.